Good day - Evolve Mutations (1&2) arrived and I did a track using some of the thundering drums, it does have the right ingredients especially combined with Alchemy's gritty complexity. This evening I shall retire to more Cirklon and Lancet and Fantom noodles. Now I've got over the disappointment of the lack of synced loops (Roland guy may still come through for me but he's gone quiet today) I can concentrate on filling the RAM with all manner of samples. Might look at getting the Mellotron brass in there and see how easy it is. Could be worth looking at that Chicken Systems translator thing and see how that works for changing EXS samples to Fantom ones.

Pat working midnight until 06:00. Couldn't take scooter today as battery was flat. Sorta annoying as we've already sold it but bought a new battery anyway.

Vermona Lancet arrived today, new Cirklon OS too so a busy day combining them and using the Fantom XR. Roland guy offered to help so maybe he can suggest some good stuff. He sorta mentioned he was working with OMD and Howard Jones, implying that little me should be no trouble. However, it made me wonder why those guys weren't able to use it themselves. It sounds ace BTW but I don't think I'll be able to get my loops into it as it doesn't seem able to change tempo, as well as the problem that when it hangs you have to turn off.

Considering taking Microsampler instead actually as I can fill that with loops and it's easy!

Cirklon, Proteus2000, Lancet, Zira, Timefactor, mixer(?), Monotron, Microsampler (or ESX?)...

Didn't do much of note today. Worked on more Fantom samples, such a slow and tedious process though. Starting to think I made a mistake getting it and some simpler alternative would have been more pleasurable to work with - Proteus plus Nova perhaps. Ah well, too late to worry about that now.

Dark & Dangerous: worked on a new track, needs a better drum loop but I'm putting in some orchestral surges and crescendos I found. I must try to find someone to flog some music to before I get engrossed in another review. That NI thing should be here soon and hopefully that will help but the rhythmic thing is gonna be an issue until I either get a dedicated drum thing and play it myself (Alchemy has inspired me there) or buy more loops...

Ho hum, tomorrow is another day. So they say.

Pat gave a talk today to some cancer women about wigs and they want her back to do more. Is there nothing that woman doesn't excel at? :)

Ace night. Made up for last night's loss of studio time. Did a new track entirely on Colin Fraser's creation - a different Colin Fraser too. Heh.

Different Sunday

Went over to Sheffield for an audio visual thing - pretty good, saw this cool version of Vincent Price's Last Man on Earth with a new soundtrack. Other highlights were a Synthi (thought at first it was samples as the wibbles didn't seem sympathetic with the music) and the Abstract Film Orchestra - would love to see them again. Didn't make it to the end as was very tired and conscious of the long drive home. Missed Skywatchers which is a shame as they sound good (note to self: order CD). Sheffield was heaving, lots of dazed young totty wandering around, made me feel quite old. Mind you most things do.

Got Microstation review off this morning after finishing touches.

Les going into hospital today, he's quite worried.

Right, best press on and do some music!

Not so funky Fantom

The Fantom XR arrived today. Oh dear, Roland what are you thinking? The display is awful, the editor not massively better mad USB implementation - Clavia and Korg can do this but Roland have no idea, it seems. Very long-winded and you have to perform writes on the unit itself BUT my multisample after power off was NOT the same, no idea how; well I do but I'll try and use it 'simpler' tomorrow; sample before I multisample; create a rhythm set and see if that's easier and avoids all that stupid base key thing and that tiny triangle.

BUT(2) a happy accident. The other multisample, my very first one I'd forgotten about, that one has loads of wrong transpositions that are really good. All the SH-101 stuff at its extremes makes a hell of a cool "kit". So I am optimistic in the long term. Could only get 256Mb DIMM but that'll be plenty. The Nord Wave only had 180Mb and I ain't filling this with mellotrons! Gonna be Synthi though.

Cat arrived today, cute thing. Just grabbed it as it climbed my ladder.

Cirklon OS took decent step forward today.

Got two extra sound sets for Chameleon - very kind of those guys, brief test sounded excellent too. And I can set the low keys to select new snapshots (shoulda read the manual) which is wicked.

So all is well. Didn't get round to going to Paul's.

Pat has a cold poor thing.

Funny day, worked on a couple of tracks, some good pointers on one from Paul (de-Shreeve it!) which I'll address tomorrow. Bought Chameleon despite them not replying to my email about the envelopes and also asking if there's a waveform step function like the V-Synth. It does have some great V-Synth qualities though and I've used it already. Also bought Native Instruments Evolve Mutations (1+2) - Paul sure knows lots of the top softsynths. Decided not to blow all my cash on laptop but buy some decent things for my existing machine and let the hardware do the gigging. Smaller PC laptop may still be useful though to cut down on carrying modules. Just not blowing two grand on a Macbook.

No work on review today but discovered the arp edit part and took some screen captures.

Went to Chorley and saw amazing rainbow and spectacular sky.

Some good Cirklon ideas hatched.

Lots of rain. Meant I didn't manage an afternoon/evening quietly working as Pat stayed home. I really must work out how to write music when not alone in the house, not sure how this little block arose. At least the review is going well, just need to get the opening bit done, trim some of my more caustic comments and find out where the arpeggiator editor pages are.

End of our street almost flooded again.
With no musical progress I suspect Mars may think I'm not bothered doing some tracks in the style of that last one he sent. I want to but struggling to get going. Would be easier if I had a proper brief to work from rather than this hope that he'll be impressed and want me to do more.

Looked at Alchemy. Seems ace - some very V-Synth functions although envelopes seem "typical digital" (start at zero). Have asked about that plus about stepping through samples V-Synth style using the arpeggiator. If it can do that I'll buy it, I think.

Seems my packages have reached Chorley which isn't too impressive for a day's travelling.

Funny day. Nord Wave/KS-Rack and Drumstation picked up and on the way to the emerald isle. Old buddy came around for a visit, lots of reminiscences. Helped Les pick a new car. Should make progress with Microstation review tonight.

Police were at the end house today. Trailer trash strike again. Much shouting, several white vans. Wish they'd move. Really wish they'd move.

Rainy days suit studio work nicely. Been pottering with Cirklon - still not making mega process cos I have to keep manual track of which patches each song uses - but it's definitely shaping up.

Sold Nord Wave, KS-Rack and Drumstation in one go, which means I can afford my Macbook Pro. Of course now I can afford it I'm agonising over spending such an amount on a mere computer. Do I actually need it given the number of gigs I'm planning to play from now on (not many)? Is the 'backup idea' truly worth spending two grand on?

Have had my faith in MIDI hardware shaken by the timing sloppiness of the JV-2080 - so the single "do all module" could be a pipe dream. Closest to that is still the Proteus.

Just think, if I'd thought about all this earlier I could have kept the Two Voice. :(

Although old stuff has little value to my work other than for sampling, it still calls to me more. Maybe I should spend half on something cool and the other half on new softsynths (Morphestra, Alchemy come to mind) which should help my library work. Sigh... I'm so indecisive.

Or am I?

Off to see mum today and find out the latest about the trial, the scary dentist bill and other tales to make my hair curl.

Review going well, have almost a first draft done. Still wondering about the "top secret" synth.

Chucked it down last night, started to worry it would reach the front door. Next street flooded and water in folks' houses. Not good, drains inadequate. Reckon it's time people started taking the council to court for allowing too much building to be done and therefore putting homes at risk.

Will work on Microstation review today, have got all manuals and software now. Spent yesterday just playing it and exploring the sequencer. Contemplating a Macbook Pro direct from the States as prices much lower - what's the catch??

Ugh, early start this morning after a night of not a great deal of sleep. Synth DIY went well and involved the usual beer/curry/babewatching. This time I had a nice tour of the place too and was very impressed by Paul's new synth and the super-tightness of drums triggered directly/simultaneously from Cirklon's analogue bus rather than via MIDI.

Today must throw myself back into work... and start to make decisions about Berlin. Including looking for flights. First, horse stuff to do as farrier coming and Pat at hospital.

Funny sort of day. Nice walk with Pat in the morning and confirmed the Berlin gig - so I now have to do some work for it. Which means some kind of laptop thing I guess.

Pat got a call from Maureen - apparently she's been in hospital for a week and spoke to me last Thursday telling me and that she'd had a minor heart attack. Rings a vague bell that but Pat says I didn't even mention she'd rung. Possible as I was "working" and possibly failed to appreciate the gravity of the call. Oh dear. Wonder if I wrote owt in last week's blog? Must look...

Colin and Tony here tomorrow ready for Synth DIY. Hoping Colin will bring his guitar and we can record some stuff. Also thought of possibly getting Bill to play.

Painty

Started a painting today. Probably more organic than ideal for the lady in question but it's entertaining me and it could be a practice run for hers if it ain't what she's after. Weird being paid to paint so best I just do it and then see if it's OK.

I Monster playing in Sheffield soon, must try to be there. New discovery but good.

Funeral tomorrow, court case postponed today, looks like poor A has another op to come.

Heh

It appears to be Sunday. Didn't get hold of Dog yet but don't want to hold off doing those tracks too long.

I've got about 4 new tracks in progress, two at least should be for the "dynamic" collection.